EP0464709B1 - Verfahren zur Abgasreinigung von Verbrennungsmotoren - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Abgasreinigung von Verbrennungsmotoren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0464709B1
EP0464709B1 EP91110756A EP91110756A EP0464709B1 EP 0464709 B1 EP0464709 B1 EP 0464709B1 EP 91110756 A EP91110756 A EP 91110756A EP 91110756 A EP91110756 A EP 91110756A EP 0464709 B1 EP0464709 B1 EP 0464709B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
catalyst
exhaust gas
type
molecular sieve
oxygen
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91110756A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0464709A1 (de
Inventor
Satoru C/O Nagasaki Shipyard & Eng.Works Serizawa
Shozo C/O Nagasaki Shipyard & Engine Works Kaneko
Toshihiko C/O Nagasaki Shipy. & Eng.Works Imamoto
Kazo C/O Hiroshima Technical Institute Iida
Norihisa C/O Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K. Kobayashi
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0464709A1 publication Critical patent/EP0464709A1/de
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01D—SEPARATION
    • B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
    • B01D53/34—Chemical or biological purification of waste gases
    • B01D53/92—Chemical or biological purification of waste gases of engine exhaust gases
    • B01D53/94—Chemical or biological purification of waste gases of engine exhaust gases by catalytic processes
    • B01D53/9445—Simultaneously removing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or nitrogen oxides making use of three-way catalysts [TWC] or four-way-catalysts [FWC]
    • B01D53/945—Simultaneously removing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons or nitrogen oxides making use of three-way catalysts [TWC] or four-way-catalysts [FWC] characterised by a specific catalyst
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01N—GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
    • F01N3/00—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust
    • F01N3/08—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous
    • F01N3/10—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous by thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust
    • F01N3/18—Exhaust or silencing apparatus having means for purifying, rendering innocuous, or otherwise treating exhaust for rendering innocuous by thermal or catalytic conversion of noxious components of exhaust characterised by methods of operation; Control
    • F01N3/22—Control of additional air supply only, e.g. using by-passes or variable air pump drives
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for cleaning the exhaust gas of an engine operation in the lean burn region, and specifically it relates to a method for removing NO x , organic compounds and CO from an engine exhaust gas to clean the gas.
  • the treatment of an exhaust gas from a car or the like is usually achieved by removing NO x , organic compounds and CO from the exhaust gas with the aid of a three-way catalyst.
  • the three-way catalyst can restrictively remove NO x from the exhaust gas only in an extremely narrow range of a theoretical or stochiometric air fuel ratio and its neighborhood.
  • Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 139145/1989 discloses a technique regarding an exhaust gas cleaning catalyst characterized in that a reducing catalyst (one type of catalysts having a molecular sieve structure) in which a transition metal is carried on a zeolite by ion exchange is disposed on the side of the exhaust gas inlet, and an oxidizing catalyst or a three-way catalyst in which a catalytic component is supported on alumina is disposed on the side of the exhaust gas outlet. Furthermore, this publication describes that in order to remove NO x by the use of the zeolite, an organic compound is necessary, and for the removal of the remaining organic material, the three-way catalyst or the oxidizing catalyst is disposed on the exhaust gas outlet side.
  • some examples of the catalysts having a molecular sieve structure referred to herein include: catalysts, some of which are generally called a zeolite, mainly comprising silica and alumina with an Si/Al ratio of about 5-100 and with a crystalline structure of X type, Y type, ZSM type or the like; a metallosilicate mainly comprising silica, alumina and a metal such as iron with an Si/metal ratio of about 5-100 and with a crystalline structure of X type, Y type, ZSM type or the like; and the above-mentioned zeolite and metallosilicate which are ion exchanged with a transition metal.
  • a zeolite mainly comprising silica and alumina with an Si/Al ratio of about 5-100 and with a crystalline structure of X type, Y type, ZSM type or the like
  • a metallosilicate mainly comprising silica, alumina and a metal such as iron with an Si/met
  • the three-way catalyst herein means a catalyst which is capable of simultaneously and effectively treating the three kinds of components, i.e., the organic compounds, CO and NO x , in the vicinity of the stochiometric air fuel ratio and in which catalytic components, such as Rh (and Pt or Pd), as a basic component and, if necessary, oxides of Ni, Fe, Co, Mn, Ce and Zr are supported on Al2O3 or a cordierite.
  • catalytic components such as Rh (and Pt or Pd)
  • the oxidizing catalyst means a catalyst which causes oxygen in the exhaust gas to react with the organic compounds and CO, thereby oxidizing them and decomposing them into CO2 and H2O.
  • a catalyst which causes oxygen in the exhaust gas to react with the organic compounds and CO, thereby oxidizing them and decomposing them into CO2 and H2O.
  • the oxidizing catalyst can be obtained by carrying, as catalytic components, noble metals such as Pt, Pd, Pt-Pd and, if necessary, a trace of Rh on Al2O3 or a cordierite.
  • the noble metals can be replaced with base metals, and such catalysts are also included in the meaning of the oxydizing catalyst.
  • NO which is the main component of NO x
  • the zeolite catalyst even if no reducing agent is present: 2NO ⁇ N2 + O2
  • this reaction is not practical because of its slow speed and because of a large amount of the catalyst required.
  • the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure is used and olefins originally present in the exhaust gas or injected from the outside are utilized as the reducing agents, the decomposition reaction of NO x rapidly proceeds and a smaller amount of the catalyst is enough.
  • both catalysts are not active at an oxygen concentration of about 0.7%, so that a denitration rate is low and hence the cleaning efficiency is not high on the whole. For this reason, there is a problem that the total denitration ratio is not improved.
  • the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure is combined with the three-way catalyst, most of the reducing agents are removed by the catalyst disposed in the upstream position, and thus NO x can scarcely be removed from the exhaust gas by the catalyst in the downstream position and, what is worse, nitrogen compounds such as ammonia and the like are oxidized, with the result that the amount of NO x increases.
  • JP-A-1-203 609 it is known to reduce the amount NOx, CO and HC gases present in the exhaust gas of a combustion engine by using a catalyst composed of Cu or CuO and zeolite and injecting air into the catalyst layer to keep an air-fuel ratio at 14.6 or less. In this way the exhaust gas is said to be cleaned with high efficiency without exposing the catalyst to the reductive atmosphere of exhaust gas.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a method for simultaneously and effectively removing NO x , organic compounds and CO from an exhaust gas discharged from an engine which operates in a lean burn region.
  • the present invention is directed to a method for cleaning a lean burn engine exhaust gas using a catalyst and injecting an oxygen containing gas into the exhaust gas characterized in that the gas containing oxygen like air is injected immediately before the exhaust gas discharged from an engine is brought into contact with a catalyst having a molecular sieve structure including catalysts of the zeolite type, mainly comprising silica and alumina with an Si/Al ratio of about 5-100 and with a crystalline structure of X type, Y type, ZSM type or similar type, or of the metallosilicate type mainly comprising silica, alumina and a metal such as iron with an Si/metal ratio of about 5-100 and with a crystalline structure of X type, Y type, ZSM type or similar type, so that an oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas may be from 1 to 13%, when the engine is operated at an air-fuel ratio of a stochiometric air fuel ratio or of a higher air-fuel ratio.
  • a three-way catalyst can be additionally disposed on the downstream side of the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure.
  • a gas containing oxygen such as air or an exhaust gas is injected on the upstream of the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure by the use of an air compressor or the like, whereby the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is maintained at a level high enough to clean the exhaust gas.
  • the oxygen concentration is preferably about 2%.
  • the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure can be combined with the three-way catalyst.
  • the gas containing oxygen such as air is injected on the upstream of the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure in the region where the activity of the three-way catalyst and the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure is not high, whereby the activity of the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure can be improved and the cleaning efficiency of the exhaust gas can be improved.
  • an oxygen sensor can be disposed on the upstream or the downstream side of the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure, and the oxygen concentration can be controlled by means of a controlling apparatus such as a computer. This control can always be performed during the operation of an automobile.
  • the reducing agents such as organic compounds and CO which are produced or not decomposed by the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure can be measured by a detector for hydrocarbons, CO and the like disposed on the downstream side of the exhaust gas, whereby amounts of NO x , the hydrocarbons or other reducing agents to be discharged can be controlled so as to minimize these amounts or to control them constant.
  • the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure and carrying a transition metal such as copper is disposed in the upstream position and the three-way catalyst is disposed in the downstream position.
  • the three-way catalyst is not always necessary.
  • An exhaust gas discharged from an automobile or the like contains NO x , organic compounds, CO, H2 and the like.
  • NO x is decomposed by the reducing function of the olefin series organic compounds in the presence of the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure and CO is also decomposed simultaneously.
  • the remaining NO x is not further decomposed in the presence of oxygen, but the remaining organic compounds and CO are only decomposed and then discharged from the car. That is, NO x , the organic compounds and CO can be all removed from the exhaust gas sufficiently.
  • the exhaust gas contains a smaller amount of oxygen, and therefore NO x is scarcely removed from the exhaust gas by the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure. Therefore, air is injected into the exhaust gas in the rich burn region to obtain the same oxygen concentration as in the lean burn region, and NO x is reduced with the olefin series organic compounds in the presence of the same catalyst having the molecular sieve structure as described above, with the result that NO x and the olefin series organic compounds are decomposed and simultaneously CO is also decomposed. Furthermore, when the three-way catalyst is disposed in the downstream position, the remaining organic compounds and CO are decomposed to discharge the cleaned exhaust gas.
  • the olefin series organic compounds cannot be converted into CH2O and the like which are active to NO x and the denitration cannot be achieved. It is necessary that the oxygen content is from 1 to 13%, preferably about 2%.
  • the catalyst having the molecular sieve structure scarcely contributes to the denitration, but when a small amount of air is injected and the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas is adjusted to be about 2%, the denitration ratio is as high as 70% or more, depending upon the concentration of the organic compounds.
  • the denitration ratio of a catalyst having a molecular sieve structure rises along with the increase of an oxygen concentration, but it begins to drop, when the oxygen concentration exceeds a certain level.
  • the maximum denitration ratio is attained at an oxygen concentration of about 2%, depending upon conditions of an exhaust gas.
  • the oxygen concentration is in the vicinity of 0%, the denitration scarcely occurs.
  • the denitration ratio can be heightened.
  • the performance and heat resistance of the catalyst 1 having the molecular sieve structure are largely affected by the copper ion exchange ratio, and the higher the copper ion exchange ratio is, the more the low-temperature activity and the heat resistance are improved.
  • the high-temperature activity exceeds a certain level, the organic compounds burn out instead of acting on NO x . Therefore, the optimum copper ion exchange ratio is present between the above-mentioned limits.
  • the maximum value of the copper ion exchange ratio is not limited to 100%, and it has been recently elucidated that an exchange ratio of 100% or more is also possible. When the exchange ratio is 100% or more, the heat resistance of the catalyst 1 is more excellent.
  • the present invention can achieve the following functional effects.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Exhaust Gas Treatment By Means Of Catalyst (AREA)
  • Catalysts (AREA)
  • Electrical Control Of Air Or Fuel Supplied To Internal-Combustion Engine (AREA)
  • Exhaust Gas After Treatment (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Verfahren zum Reinigen der Abgase eines im Magerbetrieb betriebenen Motors unter Benutzung eines Katalysators und mit Einblasen eines Sauerstoff enthaltenden Gases in das Abgas,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
    das Sauerstoff enthaltende Gas eingeblasen wird unmittelbar bevor das vom Motor ausgestoßene Abgas mit einem Katalysator mit Molekularsiebstruktur, einschließlich Katalysatoren des Zeolith-Typs, der hauptsächlich Silizium- und Aluminiumoxid in einem Si/Al-Verhältnis von etwa 5-100 und einer Kristallstruktur des X-, Y-, ZSM- oder eines ähnlichen Typs aufweist, oder des Metall-Silikat-Typs, der hauptsächlich Siliziumoxid, Aluminiumoxid und ein Metall, z.B. Eisen, in einem Si/Metall-Verhältnis von etwa 5-100 und einer Kristallstruktur des X-, Y-, ZSM- oder eines ähnlichen Typs umfaßt, in Berührung gebracht wird, so daß die Sauerstoffkonzentration im Abgas zwischen 1 und 13% beträgt, wenn der Motor mit einem stöchiometrischen oder mit höheren Luft-Kraftstoff-Verhältnissen betrieben wird.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1,
    bei dem ein Dreiwege-Katalysator dem Katalysator mit Molekularsieb-Struktur nachgeschaltet ist.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei dem
    - ein Sauerstoff-Meßfühler zum Messen der Sauerstoffkonzentration dem Katalysator mit Molekularsieb-Struktur voroder nachgeschaltet ist, und
    - die einzublasende Menge des Sauerstoff enthaltenden Gases gesteuert wird,
    derart, daß die gewünschte Sauerstoffkonzentration vor oder hinter dem Katalysator mit Molekularsiebstruktur erzielt wird.
  4. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei dem
    - die Menge schädlicher Gaskomponenten durch einen Detektor für schädliche Gaskomponenten gemessen wird, der dem Katalysator nachgeschaltet ist, und
    - die einzublasende Menge des Sauerstoff enthaltenden Gases gesteuert wird, damit die in die Atmosphäre abgegebenen Mengen der schädlichen Gaskomponenten gesteuert werden.
EP91110756A 1990-07-02 1991-06-28 Verfahren zur Abgasreinigung von Verbrennungsmotoren Expired - Lifetime EP0464709B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2172642A JPH0463907A (ja) 1990-07-02 1990-07-02 エンジン排ガスの浄化方法
JP172642/90 1990-07-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0464709A1 EP0464709A1 (de) 1992-01-08
EP0464709B1 true EP0464709B1 (de) 1995-02-08

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ID=15945668

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91110756A Expired - Lifetime EP0464709B1 (de) 1990-07-02 1991-06-28 Verfahren zur Abgasreinigung von Verbrennungsmotoren

Country Status (4)

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EP (1) EP0464709B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0463907A (de)
CA (1) CA2045983C (de)
DE (1) DE69107252T2 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996001142A1 (en) * 1994-07-05 1996-01-18 Ford Motor Company Limited Hybrid exhaust gas catalyst
US5727385A (en) * 1995-12-08 1998-03-17 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Lean-burn nox catalyst/nox trap system

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2231290A1 (de) * 1972-06-26 1974-01-10 Edward John Mccrink Vorrichtung zur behandlung von abgasen
JPS51123428A (en) * 1975-04-21 1976-10-28 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Exhaust gas purifier
JPS5629013A (en) * 1979-08-17 1981-03-23 Toyota Motor Corp Exhaust gas cleaning for internal combustion engine
JPH01139145A (ja) 1987-11-25 1989-05-31 Toyota Motor Corp 排気浄化用触媒

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69107252D1 (de) 1995-03-23
DE69107252T2 (de) 1995-09-14
JPH0463907A (ja) 1992-02-28
CA2045983C (en) 1999-08-31
EP0464709A1 (de) 1992-01-08
CA2045983A1 (en) 1992-01-03

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